Page 149 of So I'll Know
I came to the beach house hoping for the best but expecting the worst. I don’t think I deserve Jeremy’s forgiveness. Hell, I still believe that he can do better. But I’m done fighting what I feel, and if he feels the same way, then maybe I’m not his downfall after all.
Maybe he’s my savior.
“Where’re we going?” Jeremy asks with a giggle.
“You’ll see.”
He huffs in annoyance, and I smile. I still love pissing himoff. And now I finally have him all to myself for the first time since March.
It’s late, so the beach is empty except for the birds. I stop when we have a good view of Haystack Rock. I pull him against me, kissing him fervently. He moans into my mouth as my hands run through his soft silver hair, getting tangled in the windswept strands. Time stutters while our mouths dance together; the only sound louder than our beating hearts is the roar of the waves. The ocean washes over our feet, and we break apart when Jeremy yelps, “Fuck, that’s cold!”
I chuckle and take his hand again, tugging him away from the water until we reach soft sand. It’s chilly on my feet, and I shiver. I drop Jeremy’s hand and spread out the blanket. Jeremy smiles and sits, pulling his knees to his chest as he stares out at the horizon. I join him, leaning back on my hands as I cross my ankles. We stay like that for a long time, lost in our thoughts. I glance at Jeremy. In the moonlight, he’s stunning—pale, flawless skin, sterling hair moving gently with the breeze, and full, pink lips.
“You’re staring,” he says, his voice teasing.
“You’re beautiful.”
He smiles at me, and it lights me on fire. “Thank you for what you did to Ryan. I read all about it in the papers.”
I shrug. “Your parents weren’t his only victims.” I sigh. “And I know it doesn’t make their deaths hurt any less.”
“It doesn’t, but I do get some satisfaction knowing that he got what he deserved.”
“I think he deserved worse, to be honest.” I glance at him and brush a strand of silver hair from his eyes. “I hope you know that I didn’t know those board members were your parents. I had my suspicions, and I should have mentioned it. But if I had known for sure, I would have told you?—”
“Shhh, it’s done now.” He leans forward and brushes his lipsagainst mine. When we pull apart, he tilts his head. “You know, big guy, I didn’t need a public spectacle to forgive you.”
“I know. But I wanted to show you that I’m not ashamed of you. Of us.” I sigh. “It wasn’t fair the way I treated you. I never wanted to hurt you, Jeremy.”
He nods and drops his head to my shoulder. “I know.” His body shakes with silent laughter.
I nudge him. “What’s so funny?”
“It’s just, you must’ve hated everything about that,” he says with a snicker. “My grumpy, introverted man sharing his feelings in front of everyone. All for me.” He sighs. “So romantic.”
I smile. “It was brutal. I took a page fromWhen Harry Met Sally, going with the grand declaration.”
“Oh yeah?”
“It was that or stand outside your window with a boombox, but I think that’s been overdone.”
He snorts a laugh and crawls into my lap. His hands run along my bearded cheeks and into my hair. “I love you.”
My heart trips over itself. Even though I knew it was true, it’s the first time he’s said it to me out loud. I push him off me, rolling him onto his back so I’m covering his body with mine. “Fuck, I love you so much, baby boy.”
“Show me,” he whispers, pushing his hips against mine. “Fuck me, Marcus.”
I grind against him and groan. “You want me to own this perfect ass?”
He nods. “But what if we get caught again?” I pull his shirt over his head, watching hungrily as his nipples tighten in the cool air. “We’ll get put on some sort of Cannon Beach PD naughty list.”
I lean down and drop my lips to the sensitive spot below his ear, sucking gently. “As if you don’t love the idea of being on a naughty list.”
He hums in agreement, and I reach for his pants, undoing the button and peeling them off his toned legs.
I freeze, my mouth falling open as I stare at his lacy black panties, his cock straining against the flimsy material. “Holy shit,” I breathe.
“You like?” Jeremy’s eyes are hooded as he watches me.
